United States pauses expansion of visa waiver program

The United States government is currently conducting a comprehensive re-evaluation of its Visa Waiver program, resulting in a temporary halt to the inclusion of any new countries. Although Cyprus has successfully fulfilled all necessary technical requirements for participation, officials from the U.S. have confirmed that no new nations will be added to the program at this stage.

During a visit to Cyprus in July 2026, Rob Law, Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, met with Deputy Minister to the President Irene Piki. During these discussions, it was formally reaffirmed that Cyprus had completed the required technical criteria for entry. However, the current U.S. policy shift means that further consideration of the Mediterranean nation’s application will now depend on broader internal U.S. governmental reviews.

This development maintains the existing travel requirements for Cypriot citizens visiting the United States. While the progress made by Cyprus is acknowledged by Washington, there is currently no definitive timeline for when the U.S. will resume expanding the program or when Cyprus might be officially admitted. The situation remains under monitoring by both local authorities and U.S. representatives as the internal reassessment process continues.